Arm guard for archer

ABSTRACT

A light-weight lattice-like shield including integrally formed loops for receiving adjustable, flexible and elastically extensible bands for securement of the shield to the forearm of an archer, thereby to serve as a protective arm guard

United States Patent Saunders et a]. 451 Nov, 28, 1972 [54] ARM GUARDFOR ARCHER 992,831 5/191 1 Whelan ..24/168 Inventors: llen Eugem F.Engan. ..2/16 X Saunders both ofcolumbus Nebr 3,002,192 10/1961 Brower..2/ 16 r 3,117,786 1/1964 Anderson ..2/16 X [73] Assignee: SaundersArchery 00., Columbus, 3,304,555 2/1967 Anderson et a1. ..2/16

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 '1 1 ed Aug 27 1971 1,173,725 10/1958France ..2/321 [21] App]. No: 175,554

' Primary Examiner-Jmcs R. Boler 52 us. (:1 ..2/16, 2/161 A Ammekxegan'Berkma" [51] llrt. Cl. ..L [58] Field of Search ..2/16, 20,159, 161 R,321,

2/322; 24/163, 164 194, 273/189 A light-weight lattice-like shieldincluding integrally formed loops for receiving adjustable, flexible and[56] References Citedelastically extensible bands for securement of theshield to the forearm of an archer, thereby to serve as a protective armguard 5 Clains, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDNM I912 v 3.703.72

l/V VE/V TORS. THOMAS ALLEN SAUNDERS EUGENE E SAUNDERS cally extensiblehands by means of which the arm guard i is secured in place.

. Many types of archers arm guards are known in the prior art. Suchguards are conventionally used to prevent injury to the arm, such injurybeing caused by the strikingof the bowstring against the forearm uponrelease during discharge of arrows. The guards are effective not only toprotect the arm of the user but also to absorb the shocks caused by. therecoil of the bowstring.

Prior art arm guard structures include sheet-like metal shields, leatheror fabric pads, and solid fiber or plastic shields. Not only have thesedevices taken numerous and varied physical forms and structuralarrangements, but, in addition, many different securement methods forattachment of the shield to the forearm have been'used. Nevertheless, nocompletely satisfactory arm guard has heretofore been produced. In each,one or more undesirable or objectionable features may be recognized, andno arm guard has proven fully suited for the purpose intended. Themetallic guards have been difficult to adjust and to adapt to thecontour of the arm, and have caused discomfort to the wearer. Guards ofthe leather sheathed pad type tend to absorb perspiration and becomecontaminated, unsanitary, and stiff. Other prior art arm guards havebeen cumbersome or awkward as worn and have irritated the forearm.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improvedlight-weight, cool and readily washable arm guard which obviates theobjectionable features of prior art devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arm guard which iseasily and simply secured to the arm of the user, and which is readilyremovable.

Yet another object is to provide an arm guard that is extremely simplein construction, economical to manufacture and convenient to use.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide an arm guard in whichthe attachment means for securement of the guard to the arm is readilyand simply adjustable to ensure a firm and secure adaptation andattachment to the archers forearm.

Yet another feature of the arm guard of the invention is that the shieldportion is fabricated of a flexible yet rigid plastic which readilyconforms to the contour of the forearm and which is effectivelyventilated to preclude excessive perspiration of the forearm, thusgreatly contributing to the comfort of the archer.

A related feature of the improved arm guard of the invention is that itis readily washable and dries immediately without deleterious effects.

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following specification taken inconjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the use of the arm guard of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arm guard;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the means for adjustingand locking one of the bands which secures the arm guard to the archersarm; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the lines 5-5 ofFIG. 3.

The aims and objects of the invention are accomplished by providing inan archers arm guard a shield of plastic material comprising a generallyelongated, foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array ofcrossing and intersecting rod-like strips having opposed ends thereofterminating at a marginal border of the shield. The shield itself isintegrally formed with opposed pairs of loops adapted to receiveadjustable, flexible and elastically extensible bands, the bandsincluding terminal hooks for adjusting the length of the bands and foreffecting securement of the arm guard to the forearm of the archer.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 2 through 5, forpurposes of disclosure, the arm guard of 10 of the invention is shown asconstituting a shieldl2 in combination with a pair of bands 16 and 20.In the form of the invention illustrated, the shield is an integral,unitary structure comprising a generally foraminous, lattice-like webconsisting of an array of crossing and intersecting rod-like strips 24having opposed ends thereof terminating at a marginal border 30constituting a frame of the shield 12. 1

The shield 12 is preferably fabricated of a self-supporting rigid yetflexible plastic. such as polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane.

Integrally formed with the shield 12 at opposite sides thereof, are twolongitudinally spaced pairs of loops 34 and 36 and 40 and 42 adapted toreceive the arm fastening bands 16 and 20 therethrough. Each of thebands 16 and 20 is attached and secured in essentially the same manner,the technique and arrangement being best seen in the cross-sectionalview of FIG. 5 and in the perspective of FIG. 4. Referring nowspecifically to FIG. 5, the band '16, which is preferably an elastictape, is looped at one end 46 passing through the loop 36 and beingfastened by stitching 50 to provide permanent securement. The band 16passes slidably through the opposite loop 34, andis provided at itsother end 52 with a band engaging and intercoupling hook 5d (see FIG.d). The hook 54 itself is a generally a-shaped link constituting a leg56 overlying an integrally formed closed eye 60 to define a laterallyopen slot M between the leg 56 and the eye 60. The end 52 of the tape 16passes through the eye 60 and is looped upon itself and secured bystitching 70.

It will be appreciated upon consideration of the structure illustratedin FIGS. 4 and 5, that it is possible and most convenient to adjust theeffective lengths of the band 16 (or 20) by pulling the band through theguide or loops 34 (or 40) and then setting the band at any desiredlength by slidably engaging the hook 54 on to the band itself, as shownin FIG. 5. In order to loosen and disengage the arm guard 10 from thearchers arm, it is necessary merely slidably to disengage the hook 54from the band and to pull the band through the guide loop so as toloosen it enough to permit withdrawal of the forearm. The mode ofattachment of the arm guard for use is indicated generally in FIG. 1.

While neither the shape nor the physical dimensions of the shield 12 iscritical, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, theshield tapers or flares outwardly from the wrist portion upwardly of thearm in order to afford the necessary protection. It will also beappreciated by those skilled in the art, upon considering the instantdisclosure, that the physical arrangement of the lattice of the shield12 may take any preferred form. In the particular embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 2, the rod-like strips 24 extend acrossthe shield 12 obliquely and the spacing of the strips 24 is such thatthe openings formed increase in cross-sectional area as viewed from thenarrow toward the wider portion of the shield.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the band-engaging hook 54 hasa substantial thickness, which structural configuration contributesimportantly to ensuring a proper and secure locking engagement of thehook 54 with the tape 16. In initiating engagement of the hook with theband, the hook is presented to the band at right angles. Thereafter,upon application of tension, the band 16 causes the hook to rotate andthe band itself is distorted to assume a Z cross section, thus lockingthe hook against sliding displacement along the tape and establishing afirm hold.

, While the disclosure presented is that of a preferred embodiment ofthe arm guard, and while the specific details of such features as theshield itself and the elastic fastening means and hook assembly forintercoupling and locking the arm guard in place have been describedwith respect to a preferred arrangement, it is apparent that numerousmodifications and variations in structural details, in materials used,and in the final overall appearance may be made without departing fromthe underlying principles of the invention.

With the teachings of the present invention before them, those skilledin the art will be able to deduce many substantially equivalentvariations none of which constitutes a material departure from theteachings of the invention. It is, therefore, desired by the followingclaims to include within the scope of the invention, all such variationsand modifications by which substantially the results of this inventionmay be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalentmeans.

What is claimed is:

1. In an archers protective arm guard of the type adapted for securementto that forearm of an archer supporting a bow, and to extend along azone from the wrist upwardly along the forearm to overlie a surface ofthe forearm presented to a bow string thereby to shield the forearm frombeing struck by a bow string upon release of an arrow from an archerybow, said arm guard including, in combination, a shield and fasteningmeans for securement of the shield to an archers forearm;

the improvement wherein said shield comprises a generally elongated,foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array of crossing andintersecting rod-like strips having opposed ends thereof terminating ata marginal border of said shield constituting a frame thereof;

said shield being formed with integral longitudinally spaced opposedpairs of loops at peripheral lateral portions of said frame, said loopsadapted to receive band means therethrough;

and wherein said fastening means comprises a pair of fl bl del t'alltn'bl bans t tr ri svgr e y of a lon giifidin l a xis of s id e ilii e land spaced from one another along said axis, said bands being connectedto said shield at said pairs of opposed said loops;

each said bands passing through a corresponding one of said loops andeach said bands having one end thereof fixedly secured to said shield atanother corresponding one of said loops;

a band-engaging and gripping means constituting a terminal hook attachedto the other end of each said bands;

each said hook comprising a generally a-shaped link constituting a legspaced from and overlying an integrally formed closed eye to define alaterally open slot between said leg and said closed eye;

said other end of each said bands passing through a correspondingrespective said eye and being reversely looped upon said band andsecured thereto to lock said hook on said band;

each said slot being adapted to receive a corresponding said bandinserted laterally therewithin and to permit shifting of said bandlinearly within said slot along a principal extent of said band;

spaced bar means defining opposed principal walls of said slot beingeffective grippingly frictionally to engage said band at selectiblepositions therealong releasably to lock said band in said slots;

whereby an effective length of said band may be readily and simplyadjusted to accommodate each archers arm size.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web, strips,frame, and loops of said shield are integrally formed of aself-supporting flexible plastic composition.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shield is of aninconstant width and wherein said rodlike strips extend obliquely acrossthe width of said shield.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said rod-like stripsextending obliquely across said shield are spaced to form strip-boundedopenings of varying areas.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein areas defined by saidstrip-bounded openings increase in correlation with increase in lateralwidth of said shield.

1. In an archer''s protective arm guard of the type adapted forsecurement to that forearm of an archer supporting a bow, and to extendalong a zone from the wrist upwardly along the forearm to overlie asurface of the forearm presented to a bow string thereby to shield theforearm from being struck by a bow string upon release of an arrow froman archery bow, said arm guard including, in combination, a shield andfastening means for securement of the shield to an archer''s forearm;the improvement wherein said shield comprises a generally elongated,foraminous, lattice-like web consisting of an array of crossing andintersecting rod-like strips having opposed ends thereof terminating ata marginal border of said shield constituting a frame thereof; saidshield being formed with integral longitudinally spaced opposed pairs ofloops at peripheral lateral portions of said frame, said loops adaptedto receive band means therethrough; and wherein said fastening meanscomprises a pair of flexible and elastically extensible bands extendingtransversely of a longitudinal axis of said shield and spaced from oneanother along said axis, said bands being connected to said shield atsaid pairs of opposed said loops; each said bands passing through acorresponding one of said loops and each said bands having one endthereof fixedly secured to said shield at another corresponding one ofsaid loops; a band-engaging and gripping means constituting a terminalhook attached to the other end of each said bands; each said hookcomprising a generally a-shaped link constituting a leg spaced from andoverlying an integrally formed closed eye to define a laterally openslot between said leg and said closed eye; said other end of each saidbands passing through a corresponding respective said eye and beingreversely looped upon said band and secured thereto to lock said hook onsaid band; each said slot being adapted to receive a corresponding saidband inserted laterally therewithin and to permit shifting of said bandlinearly within said slot along a principal extent of said band; spacedbar meaNs defining opposed principal walls of said slot being effectivegrippingly frictionally to engage said band at selectible positionstherealong releasably to lock said band in said slots; whereby aneffective length of said band may be readily and simply adjusted toaccommodate each archer''s arm size.
 2. The structure as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said web, strips, frame, and loops of said shield areintegrally formed of a self-supporting flexible plastic composition. 3.The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shield is of aninconstant width and wherein said rod-like strips extend obliquelyacross the width of said shield.
 4. The structure as set forth in claim3 wherein said rod-like strips extending obliquely across said shieldare spaced to form strip-bounded openings of varying areas.
 5. Thestructure as set forth in claim 4 wherein areas defined by saidstrip-bounded openings increase in correlation with increase in lateralwidth of said shield.